82nd Wisconsin Legislature
81st 83rd
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 6, 1975 January 3, 1977
ElectionNovember 5, 1974
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentMartin J. Schreiber (D)
President pro temporeFred Risser (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Assembly
Members99
Assembly SpeakerNorman C. Anderson (D)
Speaker pro temporeEdward Jackamonis (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
RegularJanuary 6, 1975 January 3, 1977
Special sessions
Dec. 1975 Spec.December 9, 1975 December 11, 1975
May 1976 Spec.May 18, 1976 May 18, 1976
Jun. 1976 Spec.June 15, 1976 June 17, 1976
Sep. 1976 Spec.September 8, 1976 September 8, 1976

The Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 1975, to January 3, 1977, in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.[1]

This was the first legislative term since 1893, when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin held the Governor's office and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 5, 1974. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 7, 1972.[1]

Major events

  • January 1, 1975: Former Attorney General of the United States John N. Mitchell was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal. Former White House chief of staff H. R. Haldeman and former White House domestic affairs advisor John Ehrlichman were convicted on perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction charges.
  • January 6, 1975: Second inauguration of Patrick Lucey as Governor of Wisconsin.
  • April 1, 1975: 1975 Wisconsin Spring election:
    • Voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
      • Allowing the state to take on debt to make veterans' housing loans.
      • Repealing the section of the constitution which removed voting rights from any person found to have engaged in or facilitated a duel.
    • Voters also rejected two other amendments to the state constitution:
      • Would have allowed municipalities to bypass normal debt limits to pay for revenue-generating infrastructure.
      • Would have allowed the state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure (beyond the existing allowances for highways and port facilities). This referendum was later ruled invalid and ordered to be rerun.
  • April 30, 1975: Saigon was captured by forces of the People's Army of Vietnam, effectively ending the Vietnam War.
  • November 15, 1975: The 1st G6 summit was held at Rambouillet, France.
  • April 6, 1976: 1976 Wisconsin Spring election:
    • Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter won the 1976 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary.
    • Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have raised the limit on municipal indebtedness.
  • May 11, 1976: U.S. President Gerald Ford signed the Federal Election Campaign Act into law.
  • May 23, 1976: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Horace W. Wilkie died. Justice Bruce F. Beilfuss became the 22nd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court due to the rule of seniority.
  • September 7, 1976: Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey appointed Shirley Abrahamson to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Horace W. Wilkie. She was the first female justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • November 2, 1976: 1976 United States general election:
    • Jimmy Carter (D) elected President of the United States.
    • William Proxmire (D) re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
    • Wisconsin voters again rejected the amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed state to take on debt to fund transportation infrastructure.

Major legislation

  • July 30, 1975: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations constituting the executive budget bill of the' 1975 legislature, and making appropriations, 1975 Act 39. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, making it a gubernatorial appointee.
  • 1975 Joint Resolution 13: First legislative passage of a proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution to overhaul the state judiciary, establishing a court of appeals, collapsing the county courts into the circuit courts, and establishing the administrative powers of the supreme court over the subordinate state courts. These amendments were eventually ratified at the April 1977 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 19 seats
  Republican: 14 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 14 18 32 1
Start of Reg. Session[note 1] 18 13 31 2
From Apr. 8, 1975[note 2] 19 14 33 0
From Apr. 30, 1976[note 3] 18 32 1
From Dec. 8, 1976[note 4] 19 33 0
Final voting share 57.58% 42.42%
Beginning of the next Legislature 23 10 33 0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 63 seats
  Republican: 36 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 62 37 99 0
Start of Reg. Session 63 36 99 0
From Apr. 8, 1975[note 5] 35 98 1
From Sep. 2, 1975[note 6] 36 99 0
Final voting share 63.64% 36.36%
Beginning of the next Legislature 66 33 99 0

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 6, 1975  January 3, 1977
  • December 1975 special session: December 9, 1975  December 11, 1975
  • May 1976 special session: May 18, 1976
  • June 1976 special session: June 15, 1976  June 17, 1976
  • September 1976 special session: September 8, 1976

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 19 seats
  Republican: 14 seats
Dist.SenatorPartyAge
(1975)
HomeFirst
elected
01 Jerome Martin Dem. 66 Whitelaw, Manitowoc County 1970
02 Tom Petri Rep. 34 Green Bay, Brown County 1972
03 Jerry Kleczka Dem. 31 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
04 --Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975--
Jim Sensenbrenner (from Apr. 8, 1975) Rep. 31 Shorewood, Milwaukee County 1975
05 David Berger Dem. 28 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974
06 Monroe Swan Dem. 37 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972
07 Kurt Frank Dem. 29 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970
08 James T. Flynn Dem. 30 West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972
09 Ronald G. Parys Dem. 36 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968
10 Robert P. Knowles Rep. 58 New Richmond, St. Croix County 1954
11 Wayne F. Whittow (res. Apr. 30, 1976) Dem. 41 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968
Warren Braun (from Dec. 8, 1976) Dem. 42 Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976
12 Clifford Krueger Rep. 56 Merrill, Lincoln County 1946
13 Dale McKenna Dem. 37 Jefferson, Jefferson County 1969
14 Gerald Lorge Rep. 52 Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954
15 Timothy Cullen Dem. 30 Janesville, Rock County 1974
16 Carl W. Thompson Dem. 60 Stoughton, Dane County 1959
17 Kathryn Morrison Dem. 32 Platteville, Grant County 1974
18 Walter G. Hollander Rep. 78 Rosendale, Fond du Lac County 1956
19 Gary Goyke Dem. 27 Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974
20 Ernest Keppler Rep. 56 Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1960
21 Henry Dorman Dem. 58 Racine, Racine County 1965
22 --Vacant until Apr. 8, 1975--
John J. Maurer (from Apr. 8, 1975) Dem. 52 Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975
23 Bruce Peloquin Dem. 38 Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 1970
24 William A. Bablitch Dem. 33 Stevens Point, Portage County 1972
25 Daniel Theno Rep. 27 Ashland, Ashland County 1972
26 Fred Risser Dem. 47 Madison, Dane County 1962
27 Everett Bidwell Rep. 75 Portage, Columbia County 1970
28 James C. Devitt Rep. 45 Greenfield, Milwaukee County 1968
29 Walter Chilsen Rep. 51 Wausau, Marathon County 1966
30 Reuben La Fave Rep. 59 Oconto, Oconto County 1956
31 Thomas Harnisch Dem. 27 Neillsville, Clark County 1974
32 Milo Knutson Rep. 56 La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968
33 Roger P. Murphy Rep. 51 Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 63 seats
  Republican: 36 seats
Senate
Dist.
Dist. Representative Party Age
(1975)
Home First
Elected
01 01 Lary J. Swoboda Dem. 35 Luxemburg 1970
02 Francis J. Lallensack Dem. 58 Manitowoc 1972
03 Alan Lasee Rep. 43 De Pere 1974
02 04 John C. Gower Rep. 33 Green Bay 1972
05 William J. Rogers Dem. 44 Kaukauna 1962
06 Gervase Hephner Dem. 38 Chilton 1966
03 07 Kevin Soucie Dem. 20 Milwaukee 1974
08 John Norquist Dem. 25 Milwaukee 1974
09 Phillip Tuczynski Dem. 27 Milwaukee 1974
04 10 Jim Sensenbrenner (until Apr. 8, 1975) Rep. 31 Shorewood 1968
Rod Johnston (from Sep. 2, 1975) Rep. 38 Fox Point 1975
11 Gus Menos Dem. 54 Milwaukee 1971
12 Frederick C. Schroeder Rep. 64 Milwaukee 1964
05 13 Michael G. Kirby Dem. 22 Milwaukee 1974
14 Robert E. Behnke Dem. 42 Milwaukee 1972
15 James W. Wahner Dem. 35 Milwaukee 1970
06 16 Michael Elconin Dem. 21 Milwaukee 1972
17 Walter L. Ward Jr. Dem. 31 Milwaukee 1972
18 Lloyd Barbee Dem. 49 Milwaukee 1964
07 19 Louise M. Tesmer Dem. 32 St. Francis 1972
20 John Plewa Dem. 29 Milwaukee 1972
21 Chester A. Gerlach Dem. 27 South Milwaukee 1974
08 22 George Klicka Rep. 40 Wauwatosa 1966
23 Thomas A. Hauke Dem. 36 West Allis 1972
24 Gary J. Barczak Dem. 35 West Allis 1972
09 25 Dennis Conta Dem. 34 Milwaukee 1968
26 Harout O. Sanasarian Dem. 45 Milwaukee 1968
27 Joseph Czerwinski Dem. 30 Milwaukee 1968
10 28 Harvey L. Dueholm Dem. 64 Luck 1958
29 Leo Mohn Dem. 49 Woodville 1970
30 Michael P. Early Dem. 56 River Falls 1970
11 31 Paul Sicula Dem. 35 Milwaukee 1966
32 Peter J. Tropman Dem. 30 Milwaukee 1972
33 Richard E. Pabst Dem. 41 Milwaukee 1966
12 34 Stanley J. Lato Dem. 50 Gilman 1974
35 Sheehan Donoghue Rep. 31 Merrill 1972
36 Lloyd H. Kincaid Rep. 49 Crandon 1972
13 37 Norman C. Anderson Dem. 46 Madison 1956
38 Harland E. Everson Dem. 57 Edgerton 1970
39 Byron F. Wackett Rep. 62 Watertown 1952
14 40 Francis R. Byers Rep. 54 Marion 1968
41 Ervin Conradt Rep. 58 Shiocton 1964
42 Toby Roth Rep. 36 Appleton 1972
15 43 Cloyd A. Porter Rep. 39 Burlington 1972
44 Delmar DeLong Rep. 43 Janesville 1972
45 Gary K. Johnson Dem. 35 Beloit 1970
16 46 David D. O'Malley Dem. 62 Waunakee 1958
47 Lyman F. Anderson Rep. 48 Oregon 1974
48 Lewis T. Mittness Dem. 45 Janesville 1964
17 49 James N. Azim Jr. Rep. 38 Muscoda 1964
50 Joanne M. Duren Dem. 43 Cazenovia 1970
51 Joseph E. Tregoning Rep. 33 Shullsburg 1967
18 52 Earl F. McEssy Rep. 61 Fond du Lac 1956
53 James R. Lewis Rep. 38 West Bend 1972
54 Esther Doughty Luckhardt Rep. 61 Horicon 1962
19 55 Michael G. Ellis Rep. 32 Neenah 1970
56 Richard A. Flintrop Dem. 29 Oshkosh 1972
57 Gordon R. Bradley Rep. 53 Oshkosh 1968
20 58 Carl Otte Dem. 51 Sheboygan 1967
59 Calvin Potter Dem. 29 Kohler 1974
60 David W. Opitz Rep. 29 Saukville 1972
21 61 James F. Rooney Dem. 39 Racine 1972
62 R. Michael Ferrall Dem. 38 Racine 1970
63 Marcel Dandeneau Dem. 43 Wind Point 1974
22 64 George Molinaro Dem. 72 Kenosha 1946
65 Eugene Dorff Dem. 44 Kenosha 1970
66 Russell Olson Rep. 50 Randall 1960
23 67 Terry A. Willkom Dem. 31 Chippewa Falls 1970
68 Joseph Looby Dem. 57 Eau Claire 1968
69 La Verne Ausman Rep. 44 Elk Mound 1974
24 70 Donald W. Hasenohrl Dem. 39 Pittsville 1974
71 Leonard A. Groshek Dem. 61 Stevens Point 1966
72 Patricia A. Goodrich Rep. 41 Berlin 1974
25 73 Thomas B. Murray Dem. 36 Superior 1972
74 David Kedrowski Dem. 32 Washburn 1972
75 Kenneth M. Schricker Rep. 53 Spooner 1970
26 76 Mary Lou Munts Dem. 50 Madison 1972
77 Midge Miller Dem. 52 Madison 1970
78 David Clarenbach Dem. 21 Madison 1974
27 79 Tommy Thompson Rep. 33 Elroy 1966
80 Kenyon E. Giese Rep. 41 Sauk City 1970
81 Thomas S. Hanson Dem. 35 Beaver Dam 1974
28 82 James A. Rutkowski Dem. 32 Hales Corners 1970
83 John C. Shabaz Rep. 43 New Berlin 1964
84 Harry G. Snyder Rep. 36 Oconomowoc 1974
29 85 Edward F. McClain Dem. 39 Wausau 1974
86 Laurence J. Day Dem. 61 Eland 1968
87 Earl W. Schmidt Rep. 38 Shawano 1974
30 88 Richard P. Matty Rep. 42 Crivitz 1972
89 Cletus J. Vanderperren Dem. 62 Pittsfield 1958
90 Sharon Metz Dem. 40 Green Bay 1974
31 91 Steve Gunderson Rep. 23 Osseo 1974
92 Robert Quackenbush Rep. 51 Sparta 1970
93 Marlin Schneider Dem. 32 Wisconsin Rapids 1970
32 94 Virgil Roberts Dem. 52 Holmen 1970
95 Paul Offner Dem. 32 La Crosse 1974
96 Bernard Lewison Rep. 72 Viroqua 1954
33 97 Ronald H. Lingren Dem. 39 Menomonee Falls 1974
98 Edward Jackamonis Dem. 35 Waukesha 1970
99 Susan J. Shannon Rep. 22 Brookfield 1974

Employees

Senate employees

Assembly employees

Notes

  1. Republican Bob Kasten (4th District) and Democrat Doug La Follette (22nd District) resigned before the start of the session due to election to other offices.
  2. Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (4th District) and Democrat John J. Maurer (22nd District) were sworn in to replace Bob Kasten and Doug La Follette, respectively.
  3. Democrat Wayne F. Whittow (11th District) resigned after being elected Milwaukee city treasurer.
  4. Democrat Warren Braun (11th District) was sworn in to replace Wayne F. Whittow.
  5. Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (10th District) resigned after election to the state senate.
  6. Republican Rod Johnston (10th District) was sworn in to replace Jim Sensenbrenner.

References

  1. 1 2 Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 468, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1975). "Biographies". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1975 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 20–88. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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